Toledo, Spain was once the capital city, and now a World Heritage Site. Toledo is only 2 hours train ride from Madrid. We took the AVE Train from Attocha Train Station and in just few hours we arrived at this medieval city! Toledo still retains the atmosphere and aura which are characteristic of so many European capital cities. Toledo is a magical place, probably one of the most spectacular cities in the world.
During the 13th century Toledo became one of the few places in Spain where Moors, Christians and Jews managed to live together and tolerate each other peacefully. Wow it makes you think if people of different backgrounds and religions could live in harmony in the 13th Century than why not now.
Visitors can still admire the remains of churches, mosques and synagogues built during this time.
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of almond meal and sugar. Marzipans origins are believed to be from Toledo, Spain. When we were in Toledo I saw so many shops with just Marzipan confections, including cakes, cookies & tarts.
Ahem…Yours truly brought many boxes of the Marzipan goodies, of course I carried them like a baby on the plane, just to have the customs stop me and question me to check what’s in the boxes. Fortunately they returned my goodies back to me and I thanked them by offering some Marzipans. I think some of the customs personnel in NYC are now fans of Marzipans de Toledo!
I love baking with fruit! And when I heard that Deeba & Meeta over at Monthly Mingle & Passionate About Baking were doing a Monthly Mingle about Baking with Fruit, I was thrilled to say the least! So keeping with the theme, I made this rustic apple tart with homemade marzipan & caramel sauce. I used store bought puff pastry and lightly layered it with marzipan which by the way is so easy to make at home. Only 3 ingredients. I also made the caramel sauce at home, honestly it was my first time making the sauce, I was quite nervous.
The secret to making a homemade caramel sauce is patience. You need to stay with the sauce throughout, do not leave the stove to check your e-mail or tweet or worst yet start talking to your BFF and forget about the sauce.
Caramel sauce needs your attention or it will become a burnt,sticky mess..eeek! I also felt I should have waited longer for the sauce to cool and then pour it over the tart, as you can tell from my pictures, you can hardly see the caramel sauce, I did not wait long enough. Lesson learned!
Recipe for Rustic Apple Tart with Homemade Marzipan & Caramel Sauce
Recipe adapted from Donna Hay Magazine
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Gala Apples, cut into rounds { you can use any variety}
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 sheet of puff pastry
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 4 tablespoon of homemade marzipan, spread (recipe below}
- 2 tablespoons of homemade caramel sauce, drizzled over the tart {recipe below}
METHOD:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the apple, sugar, cinnamon and butter in a small bowl and mix to combine.
- Cut the pastry sheet into 2 equal rectangular shapes and score the edges to create a 1 inch border.
- Spread the marzipan onto the tart.
- Layer the tart with apple mixture.
- Brush the pastry with egg wash.
- Place on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper and cook for 10–15 minutes or until golden and puffed.
- Drizzle the caramel sauce over the apple tart once it has cooled.
- You can also serve some vanilla ice cream with the tart.
Recipe for Marzipan
recipe adapted from epicurious.com
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup Almond Flour or Alm0nd Meal
- About 1 and a 1/2 tablespoon egg white
- 1/2 cup sugar
METHOD:
- Add the Almond Flour & Sugar into a blender.
- Add the egg white, which should bind the almond and sugar mixture together.
- It should form a paste.
Recipe for Caramel Sauce
recipe adapted from foodtv.com via Ina Garten
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
METHOD:
- Mix the water and sugar in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Cover and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Increase the heat and boil uncovered until the sugar turns a medium brown, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Watch it carefully at the end, as it will go from caramet to burnt very quickly.
- Stand back to avoid splattering, and gradually add the cream and vanilla extract. Simmer until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth and thick, about 2 minutes.
- Serve warm, or add another 1/4 cup of heavy cream and serve room temperature.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Lovely post, Toledo is indeed a beautiful place. Nice idea of laying the marzipan under the fruit…
this looks marvelous! I have to try it. or better yet, I will come to your place and try yours!
I really, really love your photos they are absolutely amazing!!!
I love this tart, it looks so scrumptious and delicious.
SO gorgoeus!!!!
I’ve never thought of making marzipan at home. What a revelation! Your photos, as always, are gorgeous! I love traveling vicariously through your site
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Your photos are some of my faves, soooo nice! This looks super yummy and love that you made homemade marzipan AND homemade caramel!
Thanks Miriam, I really enjoyed our day trip to Toledo!
Thanks Nadia EG, Kimba, Jehan & Jennie!
Thanks Nadia & Lael! I was surprised how easy it was to make Marzipan at home!
This is so beautiful, Sara! The shot of that pouring caramel sauce really sealed the deal for me…this is definitely going to make an appearance in my near future!
Thanks Faith!
Ciao Sara-This looks delicious! Amazing photos. So thoughtful the way you pose every thing. That caramel…wow!!! Xx
Ahhhh, I love Toledo and I love marzipan. Both are truly magical. Beautiful work, Sara, putting it all together.
Thanks Bria! Toledo was magical, no doubt!
Thanks Lora! I enjoy the photography aspect of blogging!
Sara, i absolutely love any dessert made with apples- and this one includes caramel and puff pastry- delicious. your photos are so, so beautiful. xxx
Thanks Shayma
I love apples & caramel desserts too!
lovely: everything: start to finish: stories, photos, the tart, the caramel!
J’adore marzipan. It is wonderful to make it at home: so much better than store-bought.
You pull at he strings of my heart, you lovely girl, you really do. I love the pictures, those plates are calling my name. And then the beautiful tart, caramel, marzipan…all WOW! I can well imagine how gorgeous this must have been… ME LIKEY! I am so glad you were thrilled by my choice of theme for the Mingle, and I am overjoyed that you brought this beauty to it! Thank you Sara!! Rustic is what my ♥ loves!!
What beautiful photos and what a lovely dessert. I would never have thought to make my own marzipan, but now you’ve got me thinking.. your tart looks fabulous as well.
Wow, thank you so much Deeba! It means a lot coming from you my friend! I always get inspired by wonderful & talented bloggers like yourself! I’m honored to have joined you guys on the Monthly Mingle!!!
Thanks Amelia & Evan for your sweet comments & for visiting my blog!
What an absolute delight!!!!!
Cheers,
The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts
That caramel looks divine. I totally agree with you about making your own marzipan. Why wouldn’t you – it’s much nicer and so easy. Your background about Toledo and the lovely pictures is really interesting.